Defiant Kevin’s topple St Finian’s in Corn Chlanna Gael decider

FORWARDS Bobby Ellis, Jake Kavanagh and Adam Fitzpatrick proved to be the catalyst for St Kevin’s Boys National School in seizing the Corn Chlanna Gael following their 1-8 to 0-4 win at the Cumann na mBunscol Finals in Parnell Park on Tuesday.

The two local schools opened the three-day event with a hotly-contested battle in front of a large crowd of families, teachers, and pupils from other schools.

And it did not take the Kilnamanagh lads long to find their feet with corner-forward, Josh Keegan splitting the posts.

However, Jack Dodd and Bobby Treacy responded not long after to nudge the Newcastle boys into a slender lead.

Throughout the first half, Dodd and Treacy were at hand several times to keep St Finian’s within touching distance while James O’Hara and Oisin Coyne stood firm at half-back.

Jake Earley was kept busy in goal for the Newcastle school and provided a solid platform for his team mates to build upon from his excellent distribution.

Kevin’s did find a way past Earley in the opening half when Evan Kavanagh was played through and he demonstrated great composure on the ball to round the netminder and fire home.

Coming out of the break two-points up, St Kevin’s worked diligently to hang onto their lead with Ben Mackin, Evan Feighery, Alex Curtis, Tiarnán Poole and Charlie Dunne putting in a great shift.

Bobby Ellis, Jake Kavanagh and Adam Fitzpatrick went through the gears to kick excellent points for the Kilnamanagh school before Nathan O’Neill and Seán Kelly also slotted over.

As the minutes ticked down, O’Hora stormed forward to tack on St Finian’s fourth point of the game, but there was no real way back for them at this stage.

Later on in the day, St Finian’s girls competed in the Corn Pat Fogarty, but came up just short against Scoil Bride.